But the Ohio Lottery Commission, which licenses the slots operation at Northfield Park, was informed the Hard Rock name will be removed next year, lottery Operations Director Connie Miller told board members during the commission’s monthly meeting Monday.

Miller said the switch will require a lot of work, because the Hard Rock brand is on the carpet and on signs throughout the facility. MGM has not said what name will be used for the new branding, Miller said.

Monday evening, MGM confirmed the planned change, but declined to add more details.

“When MGM Resorts transitions to its role as operator, the name of the property will change. We will share more information about the brand as the transition approaches," Brian Ahern, director of corporate media relations for MGM Resorts International, said in an email.

This is money kept by the racino after paying out winnings. About one-third of that money is forwarded to the Ohio Lottery.

By comparison, Ohio’s No. 2 racino - Eldorado Gaming Scioto outside Columbus - reported $146 million in gaming revenue during the same 10 months. The top casino, with table games, is Hollywood Columbus, at $188.2 million, but still well below the Rocksino.

It’s uncertain if JACK Entertainment will sell its casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, or its racino at Thistledown southeast of Cleveland.

But, under current Ohio Racing Commission rules, Penn National could not expand in Ohio with more racinos, Miller told lottery board members. Penn National, with Hollywood Gaming Dayton and Hollywood Mahoning Valley, has the maximum number of racinos permitted.

The Hard Rock Rocksino opened in December 2013. It is one of seven slots-only racinos licensed by the Ohio Lottery Commission. The separate Ohio Casino Control Commission has jurisdiction over casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.